These 8 Michigan Democrats Face Backlash After Supporting Anti-Transgender Sports Resolution
Equality Michigan encourages LGBTQ+ people and allies to speak out
A controversial resolution urging restrictions on transgender student athletes in Michigan has sparked outrage among LGBTQ+ advocacy groups in the state — especially after support from eight Democratic representatives.
House Resolution 40, introduced by Rep. Jamie Greene, calls on the Michigan High School Athletics Association (MHSAA) to comply with President Trump's recent executive order limiting transgender participation in school sports.
Equality Michigan Action Network has condemned the resolution, expressing particular disappointment with the Democratic lawmakers who crossed party lines to support the measure.
"We all want sports to be fair and student athletes to be safe," said Erin Knott, executive director of Equality Michigan Action Network, in a statement. "That's why the MHSAA already has rules about who can participate in different sports at different levels across a range of issues. They already have a process in place and are experts when it comes to sports in schools. They don't need politicians in Lansing to override their expertise with a one-size-fits-all blanket ban."
The organization characterized the resolution as a political distraction, noting that according to the MHSAA, there are currently zero transgender girls with waivers to compete in winter and spring sports.
"Just one week ago, we saw Republicans try to take away free meals for students across our state, and now they are attempting to distract us by scoring cheap political points attacking trans youth and their families," Knott stated. "Republicans are playing dangerous political games that hurt working families in Michigan."
The eight Democratic representatives who voted in favor of the resolution are:
- Tullio Liberati (HD 2) - 517-373-1776
- Alabas Farhat (HD 3) - 517-373-0144
- Mai Xiong (HD 13) - 517-373-0845
- Peter Herzberg (HD 25) - 517-373-2275
- Reggie Miller (HD 31) - 517-373-0159
- Denise Mentzer (HD 61) - 517-373-1774
- Angela Witwer (HD 76) - 517-373-0822
- Will Snyder (HD 87) - 517-373-0842
Concerned residents are encouraged to call the listed Democratic representatives who supported this resolution. Advocates suggest expressing how this vote impacts the transgender community and asking representatives to reconsider their stance on future legislation affecting LGBTQ+ rights.
In a statement to Pride Source, Stand with Trans Executive Director Roz Keith wrote, “This proposed resolution to ban trans students from playing sports is not only mean-spirited, ignorant and transphobic, it is discriminatory. This resolution, if passed, would violate Michigan’s civil rights laws.”
“Playing sports and participating in athletics is a healthy outlet for all young people,” she continued. “It builds relationships, teaches the value of teamwork, improves mental health, and so much more. The MHSAA is a credible organization with rules and regulations in place to protect the integrity of high school sports. Let’s allow them to do their job.”
The MHSAA has a policy that permits transgender girls to participate on girls’ sports teams, which is done on an individual basis and requires a waiver. According to spokesperson Geoff Kimmerly, the organization is currently assessing how the recent executive order aligns with Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on gender identity.
The number of students seeking or using the waiver is extremely low. The MHSAA has informed the state legislature that, on average, only two students each year request a waiver out of roughly 180,000 athletes. Still, Republicans continue to target an issue that affects such a small percentage of people, using it as a political wedge to rally support rather than addressing the needs of the broader public.
Equality Michigan Action Network is urging concerned citizens to contact these representatives to express their disappointment and opposition to the resolution. The organization emphasizes that the resolution's sponsors are advocating for the MHSAA to potentially violate Michigan's civil rights laws.
"Equality Michigan Action Network will continue to advocate for the rights of transgender students in our state and work to ensure that all Michigan students can participate in sports free from discrimination and harassment," added Knott.
In a message directed to transgender youth, Knott affirmed, "To any trans kid reading this out there, we've got your back, now and forever."
Recently, in an op-ed for Pride Source, ACLU staff attorney Jay Kaplan urged members outside of the transgender community to stand up for their rights, writing, “This is a point that needs to be made absolutely clear: Anyone who thinks the issues affecting trans people aren’t fundamentally connected with the broader LGBTQ+ community doesn’t know or understand the history of our movement and how it began.”
“The fact is, it wasn’t white, cisgender gay men like me who launched the movement to obtain equal rights,” he continued. “Instead, it was trans women of color who played a leading role in the 1969 Stonewall Riots, which played a pivotal role in launching the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement.”
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